Nasreddine Nabi's departure from Kaizer Chiefs drew mixed reactions, but the subsequent developments at the club suggest the Tunisian coach may have left the team better than he found it.
Nabi arrived at the club widely regarded as the 'messiah.' However, he did little to live up to that tag in his first season, winning only the Nedbank Cup and finishing a disappointing ninth in the Betway Premiership – a minimal improvement from the season before.
Entering the current campaign, expectations were high for him to improve, with the 'process' he preached finally expected to bear fruit. Instead, the club sacked him over allegations of mistrust between him and the board.
His departure divided the club's faithful, a feeling compounded by his replacement: his former right-hand men, Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, who possessed little track record of competence as sole or co-coaches.
Their appointment appeared to be a ticking time bomb, threatening to drag Chiefs down further than their 10th-place finish and leading to the potential loss of the Nedbank Cup. After an impressive start that momentarily silenced detractors, the wheels seemed to come off.
The downturn was unpleasant but highly anticipated. Pressure mounted on Kaze and Ben Youssef as disgruntled fans, former coaches, and club legends called for their immediate removal.
But Chiefs continued with their uncharacteristic approach: they stalled. This pause unleashed further wrath, leading some fans to march to the club's plush headquarters in Naturena to hand over a memorandum detailing their grievances and requests.
However, Chiefs' patience and trust in the coaching duo has since proved worthwhile, forcing most detractors to eat humble pie. This interesting turn of fortunes has seen the team record a five-game winning streak in the league – a feat not achieved since the 2019/20 season – as they are chasing a Top 3 finish.
Although things could still end sourly, Chiefs have already surpassed their performance of the past two seasons, reaching 45 points with seven league games still to play.
Kaze and Ben Youssef may not be the ideal long-term candidates to lead Chiefs forward, lacking the experience, composure, and aggression Nabi boasted. Yet, they are currently doing everything right, effectively building on Nabi’s foundation.
Flavio Da Silva’s signing under Nabi was heavily scrutinised after he looked like a defensive striker during the pre-season tour of the Netherlands and the camp in Durban for the Toyota Cup.
But the Guinea-Bissau international is making his naysayers eat humble pie. He is not only finding the back of the net but also consistently earning the team crucial points. This impressive run has rattled some opposition fans, especially those of arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.
Chiefs are hot on Pirates’ heels, though a 10-point gap remains, with Chiefs holding a game in hand. As a result, the coaching duo is set for a thrilling showdown in the return leg of the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Sunday, April 26.
By the time the two teams meet, the gap could be trimmed down to seven points, still with Chiefs holding a game in hand, depending on their respective weekend fixtures against Polokwane City and AmaZulu.
Naturally, Nabi could have done better in accelerating the development of youth graduates like Mduduzi Shabala, Wandile Duba, and Mfundo Vilakazi. However, their fluctuating form and recent resurgence have allowed them to mature at their own pace.
This trio has been a notable contributor to the team recently under Kaze and Ben Youssef, who could potentially guide the team to 66 points this season – the highest tally since Chiefs won the league with 69 points during the 2014/15 season.
Again, Chiefs could have done better, but Nabi's departure forced the team – from coaching staff to playing personnel – to mature rapidly. The Amakhosi faithful will undoubtedly want this newly found momentum to continue until the end of the season.
*This article was first published by IOL News
